TECHNICAL 39
Stefan Marais, co-owner of Fix It Fast Plumbing started working with Ariston in 2019, with 2026 marking his seventh year of working with them.
Fix It Fast Plumbing, based in Komani, Queenstown, was established on 10 August 2020 by Marais, who later partnered with Desmond Rudman to bring the business to the success it holds today. The team comprises six people and offers various services to clients, including house renovations, geyser installations and repairs, leak detection, irrigation systems, booster pump systems and water tanks, and backup water solutions.
Marais, a 29-year-old, is a qualified and licenced plumber, and his journey into plumbing started 10 years ago when he left school. After school, he worked at a plumbing company for one and a half years alongside his brother, who worked his way up in the company. After that, Marais joined an irrigation and garden design company for another one and a half years, where he learnt more about the irrigation services that the company offers today. He resigned at the irrigation company, and then started working at a plumbing company, The Plumber Man, in Queenstown as an apprentice plumber. He was offered a job by a vehicle accessories company, Prime Auto Spares. Marais always liked new challenges, but when he realised his passion for plumbing and how much he missed plumbing work, he consulted with the owner of the vehicle-accessory company about the possibility of opening a plumbing division, to which the owner replied that he would need a qualified plumber to look into the option of opening a plumbing division.
Marais took this as a sign to resign at Prime Auto Spares and pursue his plumbing career. He went back to The Plumber Man and completed his apprenticeship hours and obtained his formal qualification in Ventersdorp. After obtaining his qualification, the plumbing company offered him a permanent job, but Marais declined and officially established Fix It Fast Plumbing on 10 August 2020.
Much of Marais’ work ethics came from his grandfather, who taught him to always be grateful for what he has, and to always work hard – no matter the circumstances.“ It is so easy to do something incorrectly, but I always try to do everything according to the rules and regulations of the industry,” he explains. It is this gratitude and work ethic that has carried Marais to where he is today. He lives by the quote his grandfather taught him:“ If there’ s a pile of dirt, even if it’ s not yours, pick it up.”
As for what he enjoys most about the job, Marais explains that seeing clients happy after the job gives him immense satisfaction.“ We have all had to deal with not having water, or not having hot water, so we know how awful that feels.” But getting to finish the job, take the stress off his clients, and see them relieved when everything is in working order again is the best part of the job.
His relationship with Ariston started seven years ago, when a previous Ariston employee contacted him in December 2024 to do gas geyser installations at Addo Elephant Park. When Marais explained that he had more experience with electric geysers than gas geysers, the Ariston employee explained that it was no problem at all.“ He went with me to the installation site to show me where the new geysers needed to be installed and explained the gas geysers to me extremely well – we had a great relationship.” Afterwards, Marais approached Ariston at a plumbing event and asked for some advertising material like car magnets so that he could advertise for them – and two weeks later, the magnets, pens and hats arrived.“ It left such a good impression – when someone says they’ re going to do something, and they actually do it and do it so quickly – that’ s why I love working with Ariston.”
Stefan enjoys working with Ariston products because they are readily available everywhere and are easy to install.“ They even have stickers on the geysers that show how easy they are to install.”
As for Fix It Fast Plumbing’ s my Ariston Rewards?
The company uses the Rewards to buy meat and other braai items to celebrate employee’ s birthdays and other special occasions.
To read more about Marais’ inspiring journey to becoming a plumbing business owner, you can visit # JyHoortHier: Die storie van Stefan Marais | Solidariteit PA
Stefan Marais, co-owner of Fix It Fast Plumbing.
Supplied by Stefan Marais
July 2026 Volume 32 I Number 05 www. plumbingafrica. co. za